nderfel Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 hi all, hit a new permission Tuesday night with a new calibre. Have recently picked up permission shooting a commercial property fairly close to home (my nearest permission by nearly 2 hours driving!) that is only cleared for 17 HMR, no .22 or anything else. I have never shot 17 HMR before and was interested to see if it lived up to the hype especially seeing as I have just purchased one and am awaiting its arrival (cz thumbhole 455) We arrived about 22:30 and walked the perimeter of the property just to make sure there were no people about and to reacquaint ourselves with the layout, its about 70 acres of mainly grassland. The first couple of furry customer presented themselves but after 2 shots and 2 misses we began to suspect the zero had shifted on the rifle we were using. I was pleasantly surprised that the bunnies didn't bolt from the sound of the 17 and it was bloody loud and echoey! A quick 3 round re zero and yeah the rifle was about 3 inches high and left at 100 yards. After that it was like shooting (furry) fish in a barrel, I absolutely lovey the flat trajectory of the 17 and the punch you get from it. We were knocking over bunnies from 30 to a 100 yards plus with no aim off whatsoever. Everything we hit went down and stayed down humanely. Here is what I took away from 2 hours lamping, could of and should of been a few more - better luck next week when we are back again. Thanks Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooter Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Not a bad start there. Sounds like they have never been shot. If that's the case normally they will be out during the day light hours, anything from 15:00, and you should get a few visits before they go fully nocturnal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 cheers, yeah we have done several walk rounds in the daytime, saw more rabbits than at night but the place is open to paying members of the public during daylight so we have to lamp :( a dawn raid might be in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooter Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 a dawn raid might be in order. Try the last hour of day light and be in position for first light. Last year I hammered the bunnies on one perm to the point where there was nothing showing at any time. Driving past the same perm early morning a week ago and it looked like watership down was being filmed there (early morning here I come .22lr at the ready). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 yeah that's a good idea - will give that a go once that start disappearing at night. They adapt pretty quickly to changing threats bunnies, you have to give them that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Well done. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 I shot 24 rabbits in one 15 acre field in 40 minutes from the truck a few days ago. That was with the HMR. I think they are fantastic and if you don't make too much other noise you won't scare them off. Just got to be smart with the lamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 I shot 24 rabbits in one 15 acre field in 40 minutes from the truck a few days ago. That was with the HMR. I think they are fantastic and if you don't make too much other noise you won't scare them off. Just got to be smart with the lamp. what do you mean by smart with the lamp? always interested in tips and tricks from the more experienced amongst us. Cheers Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 When I drive into the field I give it a quick flash round to see where they are then if I need to move to get them I try and do it with the lamp off. If I can't see where I'm going I'll have it on but not at them. Then it goes on just before the shot and off straight after. If others then start to run move the lamp in front of them and I find that will often stop them in their tracks. I will then leave it on but steadily move it towards them and shoot as soon as they are in the lamp. If you chase them with the lamp they will keep running. I use red lamps and find this method works for me. Of course some rabbits are more nervous than others and you may need to adapt the way you shoot. The biggest mistakes I've seen is using the lamp too much and being too slow when taking the shot. If it's in the cross hairs pull the trigger! The more you dither the more chance you'll have of it running off. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 cheers the lamp in front thing to stop them running is a neat trick, I'll try that. good advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkycorksta Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Nice report nderfel - hope you enjoy your new 455. I dribbled a bit when you said what you were waiting for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 cheers Corky, hoping to get out with it Sunday for the first time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) Glad you like the hummer! Odd that the ground is cleared for .17hmr and not .22lr . I've not come across this in Norfolk / Suffolk. Why ? I've just re- read your OP to double check and you state ".....no 22 or anything else" so I guess this includes .22lr? Edited May 14, 2014 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Glad you like the hummer! Odd that the ground is cleared for .17hmr and not .22lr . I've not come across this in Norfolk / Suffolk. Why ? Same in Pembrokeshire,if they clear for .22 .17hmr is also regarded as cleared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 Well done bud atb Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Thanks terry, With regard to the .22 lr clearance the FLO has definitely stipulated it's cleared only for 17 hmr. You can see a fairly busy airport from this permission and there is a runway next to it behind some trees so the only reason I can think of is that a 17 round wouldn't make it through there but a 22 might? That's a guess though. The FLO in question is great, really supportive ad knowledgable so if she's done it it must be for a good reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted May 15, 2014 Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Thanks nderfel. First time i've ever heard of .17hmr being allowed and not .22lr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted May 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 Yeah me too. Odd but nowt I can do about, I might well email the flow and ask why. I will let you know what she says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 There are places where I would use a .17 hmr but not a .22 lr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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